HC notice to Jaitley on Kejriwal’s plea

New Delhi, July 13 (IANS) The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued notice to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on a plea filed by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal seeking stay on the proceedings in a criminal defamation case filed against him and five other AAP leaders by Jaitley.

Justice P.S. Teji sought Jaitley's response by August 21 on Kejriwal's plea challenging the trial court's May 19 order which rejected his plea that there are two cases - one civil and another criminal - filed against the AAP leaders and one of them should be stayed.

Jaitley had filed the criminal defamation complaint alleging Kejriwal and the five AAP leaders had allegedly defamed him in the Delhi District Cricket Association (DDCA) controversy.

Jaitley, who was the DDCA president from December 1999 to December 2013, said the allegations against him and his family lowered his dignity in the eyes of the public.

Besides the criminal defamation case, Jaitley also filed a civil defamation suit before the Delhi High Court seeking Rs 10 crore in damages from Kejriwal and the five AAP leaders for issuing allegedly false and defamatory statements against him and his family over alleged wrongdoing in the DDCA when he was its President.